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A slight figure waited in the shadows near the Transfiguration classroom. As the Gryffindor 6th years filed in, a tanned hand shot out and snagged Ron Weasley from the crowd. The red-haired teen peered into the darkness, and, with a puzzled expression on his face, followed the person around a corner and out of sight.
"Harry? Is everything all right?"
"Yes, yes everything is fine... I just want to tell you something, is all."
"I thought you had been avoiding us. What's up?"
The raven-haired youth twisted his hands together nervously. "Well... I've known this for quite some time now-but I wanted to make sure- and I thought you ought to know... I mean... I don't think you'll care that much but still..."
"What? You know you can tell me anything." Concerned, and a little impatient. Harry gathered his confidence and said in a rush-
"Ididn'tknowhowtotellyouthisanditdoesn'tmatterbut- I'm gay." His best friend's eyes widened a little bit. He stood there, numbly, as Harry sagged against the wall and covered his face with his hands. He peeked through his fingers and watched Ron's reaction, hoping with all his might that he wouldn't be rejected...he didn't think he could bear that...
"You're...gay." Slowly, almost laboriously, the words came out.
"Yes." Harry's voice was muffled by his hands.
"As in- homosexual. You check out guys instead of girls." Matter-of-fact.
Harry stifled a groan. He wasn't taking this well. Half whispered- "Yes."
"You're not..." Hesitant and a little scared. "You don't like *me*, right?"
"No." Unexpectedly, the freckled Weasley's face broke into a grin. "Well that's fine then!" Harry sighed in relief. "I don't care about that, Harry, you should know better. I was just surprised I guess." Harry shrugged in response. "Okay. Good. All right." Harry smiled at his friend.
"Thanks, Ron... for understanding." he knew his best friend was completely straight... he was head-over-heels for Hermione.
"No problem." he said cheerfully. "Let's go to class." Ron started off and the Boy-Who-Lived (who was *thanking* *God* that Ron wasn't homophobic) followed him. That was possibly one of the hardest things I've ever done. But he was okay. Ron was still friends with him; he didn't care about his choice of partners. What a wonderful friend. However, the rest of the wizarding world... Harry heaved a sigh. He really didn't think they were ready for an openly gay savior. *That* would have to wait.